Sounders say the club will stick with Schmid

The Seattle Sounders' majority owner says the club will stick with head coach Sigi Schmid, despite a disappointing finish to the season.

Sigi Schmid will be the coach in Seattle again next season, according to the club's majority owner Joe Roth.

Schmid came under fire after the Sounders were unceremoniously bounced out of the MLS playoffs in the Western Conference semifinals by the Portland Timbers, but the club has moved to back the only manager that has ever led the team in Major League Soccer.

“Adrian Hanauer and I met to review all team aspects of the organization," Roth said in a team statement. "After a thorough evaluation, there is no question that Sigi Schmid is the right man to lead our club. While we are not happy with the way we finished, Sigi’s resume and accomplishments speak for themselves.

"We have been to the playoffs five straight years, one of just three teams to have done that. Once you make the tournament you give yourself a chance to win the MLS Cup. Sigi has won two MLS Cups and it won’t be long before he does it here in Seattle. We continue to strive for excellence and we will do everything we can and give him all the resources possible to make that a reality.”

The Sounders made waves this summer with the signing of U.S. national team captain Clint Dempsey, adding the former Fulham and Tottenham star to a lineup that already boasted star striker Obafemi Martins and USA stars Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans.

Seattle floundered toward the end of the season, forcing the club to beat out the Colorado Rapids in a play-in game to make the conference semifinal, where it lost to its biggest rival, raising questions about Schmid's ability to lead the team.